OPS002 SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE POLICY & PROCEDURES
31.03.12
VERSION 2.0
OPS002
Safeguarding Children & Young People
Policy
Version 2.0
Date 30/04/12
Named person responsible for policy: Nicola Youens, Head of Quality and
Service Development
Tel: 01223 555800
Email: nicola.youens@voiceability.org
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Record of changes:
Version
Date
Change
of Change
(initials)
by Brief description
1.0 (SU)
1.1 (SU)
1.2 (SU)
1.3 (SU)
1.4 (SU)
1.5 (SU)
1.0
(APSU)
LA
19.3.10
LA
Integration to APSU policy
10.3.11
DC
Amendments
2.0
31.04.2012
NY
3.0
28/07/2013
NY
Amendment to Self Harm
and Suicide
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Table of Contents
Record of Changes .............................................................................................................
2
Table of Contents ................................................................................................................
3
Policy Statement ..................................................................................................................
4
Introduction .........................................................................................................................
4
Definitions? ..........................................................................................................................
4
Recognition ........................................................................................................................
5
Self Harm or Suicidal Behaviour .................................................. ....................................
8
Considerations when there is alleged or suspected abuse.................................................
8
Reporting procedure for cases..........................................................................................
8
When not to discuss concerns with parents/carers ...........................................................
9
When to discuss concerns with parents/carers..................................................................
9
Allegations against another child or young person involved with VoiceAbility ...................
9
Confidentiality.............................. ........................................................................................
10
Safe Recruitment Procedures.............................................................................................
10
Appendix A ................ Summary of Actions and Reporting Procedure ............................
11
Appendix B ............ .....Indicators of Abuse.......................................................................
12
Appendix C .......... .....VoiceAbility Safeguarding Children and Young People Form......
14
Appendix D ................Guidance on responding to a child making an allegation...............
15
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Policy Statement
VoiceAbility is committed to promoting the rights of all people to be safe and secure and to be free from any
form of abuse.
All VoiceAbility employees and volunteers who have contact with service users will have undergone the
enhanced disclosure of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB); Local Authority Checks; they will also be
appropriately trained and supported to adhere to the Safeguarding Children and Young People’s Policy and
Procedures.
VoiceAbility will take all suspicions of abuse seriously and respond to them appropriately following the
procedures outlined in this document.
1.0 Introduction
1.1
VoiceAbility is committed to promoting the rights of all people to be safe and secure and to be free
from any form of abuse. All VoiceAbility staff, volunteers, and any person carrying out work on behalf
of the organisation, have a duty to protect vulnerable children and young people from abuse and to
be alert to the possibility of abuse. Staff, volunteers and anyone carrying out work on behalf of
the organisation should familiarise themselves with this policy and the local safeguarding
children & young people procedures. These will be available on the local authority website and a
copy will be in each of the local offices. Anyone conducting work on behalf of VoiceAbility will take all
suspicions of abuse seriously and respond to them appropriately following the procedures outlines in
this document.
2.0
Definitions
2.1
For the purpose of this policy the following applies:
2.2
2.3

A “child” or “young person” refers to anyone under the age of 18.

For “young people” aged 18 years and over, please refer to the VoiceAbility Safeguarding
Adults’ Policy and Procedures.
People who abuse:

Are often well known to their victims, but can be strangers.

Might be a relative, partner, son or daughter, friend or neighbour, a paid or voluntary worker or
a healthy and social care worker.

Could be another child or young person.

May not realise they are abusing and can sometimes act out of character and abuse because
of the stress of caring.
Abuse can take place:

Anytime

By anyone

Anywhere
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2.4 Safeguarding of children and child protection are terms used in relation to the prevention of children
and young people from suffering harm and/or the prevention of impairment to children’s health or
development.
2.5 This would include inflicting harm on a child or failing to act to prevent harm to a child.
2.6 Safeguarding/child protection procedures should be used when there is a suspicion of harm to a child;
in any setting, whether family, institutional or community.
2.7 In situations when there are concerns that a child has an unmet need, but where there is no harm to
the child or substantial impairment of health/development, then consideration should be given to
completing a Common Assessment Framework (CAF). For more information about this the advocate
or their manager should contact the Local Authority or any professionals providing Services to the
Child or Young Person.
3. Recognition
3.1 This policy and the work of VoiceAbility adhere to the five outcomes contained within ‘Every Child
Matters, 2006’; therefore recognising the holistic needs of the child within the Child Protection
Procedures. The five outcomes that are key to a child’s wellbeing are:

Be healthy

Enjoy and achieve

Achieve economic well-being

Make a positive contribution

Stay safe
3.2 The following definitions of abuse are adapted from the Department of Health (1999) and Working
Together to Safeguard Children (2006) – A guide to interagency working to safeguard and promote the
welfare of children. There are four main categories of abuse (please also see Appendix A for indicators
of abuse):
3.2.1 Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may include physical assault ranging from rough, inappropriate or careless handling,
to direct violence - hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, suffocating, or otherwise
causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns
the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child.
Physiological/Emotional Abuse
Emotional Abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and
persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. This could involve conveying to a
child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs
of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed
on children. It could involve causing children to feel frequently frightened or in danger, or the
exploitation or corruption of a child. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of illtreatment of a child; however other types of abuse do not have to be present for emotional abuse to
take place.
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Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities,
whether or not the child is aware what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact,
including penetrative (e.g. rape or buggery) or non-penetrative (e.g. touching) acts. They may include
non-contact activities, such as involving a child in looking at pornographic materials or watching
sexual activities or encouraging a child to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to
result in the significant impairment of the child’s health or development. It may involve a parent or
carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from harm or
danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include
neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs. Neglect could include ignoring
medical, physical or social care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or
educational service, the withholding of daily living needs, such as medication, food and drink and
heating.
3.3
In addition to the above categories, the following should also be taken into consideration:
3.3.2 Discriminatory Abuse
Discriminatory abuse may include racist or sexist remarks or comments based upon a person’s
impairment, origin, colour, disability, age, illness, sexual orientation or gender, and other forms of
harassment, slurs or similar treatment.
3.3.3 Institutional Abuse
Institutional abuse includes the collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and
professional service to children or young people. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes
and behaviour that amount to discrimination through prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness,
stereotyping, or, malicious intent. It includes failure to ensure necessary safeguards in place to protect
vulnerable adults and maintain good standards of care in accordance with individual needs, including
training of staff, supervision and management, record keeping and liaising with other care providers.
3.3.5 Other Parental Factors
Children may suffer directly or indirectly if they live in households where any of the following factors
may be present. The risk to children may be heightened where a number of these co-exist (including
domestic abuse).

Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse could include a wide range of abusive acts that can be psychological, emotional,
sexual or physical. For an act to be defined as domestic abuse it must be between intimate
partners (opposite or same sex), including married, cohabiting, courtship or between a couple
who were previously intimate but are no longer together. If there is domestic abuse within a family
then do not assume that there is also child abuse, although domestic abuse is likely to have a
damaging effect on the health and development of the child. Consider the impact on the child
and whether the domestic abuser is also abusing the child. Where domestic abuse is present
this may be a safeguarding issue or a need issue (CAF).

Substance Abuse
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Children in families where there is exposure to the misuse of drugs or alcohol may be at risk of
continuing significant harm, or children in need. Consideration should be given to child protection
issues.

Vulnerable Adults
The identification of a parent or carer as a vulnerable adult does not necessarily have an adverse
impact on a child’s developmental needs, but it is essential to understand its implications for each
child in the family.

Mental Ill Health
The identification of a parent or carer with mental ill health does not necessarily have an adverse
impact on a child’s developmental needs, but it is essential to understand its implications for each
child in the family.

Parental Learning Disability
Where a parent has a learning disability it will be important not to generalise or make
assumptions about their parenting capacity. Learning disabled parents may need support to
develop the understanding, resources, skills and experience to meet the needs of their children.
Such support is particularly needed where parents experience additional stressors, such as
having a disabled child, domestic violence, poor physical and mental health, substance misuse,
social isolation, poor housing, poverty or a history of growing up in care.
3.3.6 Grooming
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 defines grooming as: "A course of conduct enacted by a
suspected pedophile, which would give a reasonable person cause for concern that any meeting
with a child arising from the conduct would be for unlawful purposes." Adults, who want to
engage children in sexual acts, or talk to children for the adult’s sexual gratification, will seek
out young people who desire friendship. The adult may use a number of grooming techniques
to build trust with the child and then attempt to engage the child in more intimate forms of
communication including the use of images and webcams. Child sex abusers may use blackmail
and guilt as methods of securing a meeting with the child.
3.3.7 Disability
Children or young people with a disability, learning or physical, or learning difficulty may be particularly
vulnerable to abuse. Research in the UK indicates that children with a disability are at an increased
risk of abuse, and that the presence of multiple disabilities appears to increase the risk of both abuse
and neglect. Some of the reasons a child with a disability may be especially vulnerable are:

Communication difficulties which may make it difficult to tell others what is happening

Fear of complaining because of a fear of losing services

Vulnerability to bullying and/or intimidation

Impaired ability to challenge abuse

Fewer social contacts with other children

Receiving intimate personal care and other contacts from a large number of caregivers.
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4.0 If a Child or Young Person Displays Self Harming and/or Suicidal Behaviours
4.1 If a young person displays self-harming and/or suicidal tendencies this falls under the
safeguarding procedures.
Staff and volunteers must then follow the normal reporting routes.
5.0 CONSIDERATATIONS WHEN THERE IS ALLEGED OR SUSPECTED ABUSE
5.1
It is the responsibility of all staff, volunteers and people carrying out work on behalf of
VoiceAbility to report abuse and not your responsibility to investigate it further.
5.2
Only ask the child or young person sufficient questions to establish what has happened i.e.
accident or possible abuse. Asking questions may compromise future investigations by the
police or local authority.
5.3
If the allegation of abuse comings from a third party then this needs to be reported in the same
way; the alerter needs to be clear with the local authority where the allegation has come from
and record this on the reporting form in Appendix B.
5.4
Do not touch any evidence. This may destroy or contaminate it.
5.5
If a member of VoiceAbility staff is thought to have abused, this procedure must be followed
and HR informed.
6. REPORTING PROCEDURES FOR CASES
6.1
Upon suspecting abuse, offer support the child or young person to raise the alert themselves
6.2
If they do not wish to raise the alert themselves, you must:
6.3
If immediate danger exists or the child /young person is seriously injured, call 999 and ensure
that the person is protected
6.4
If abuse is discovered or suspected this must be reported immediately to the local authority
following the procedure outlined below
6.5
Inform your line manager or another manager at the earliest opportunity
6.6
Your manager will work with you to decide if a safeguarding alert should be made and support
you with making this alert to the local authority. For volunteers, contact should be made with
the volunteer co-ordinator or in their absence any manager.
6.7
Decide with your manager whether you need to report to a host organisation and/or funding
authority
6.8
Decide with your manager whether you need to report to the police and/or CQC.
6.9
As soon as possible complete the safeguarding form including when and to whom within the
local authority the abuse was reported and submits to your manager. Documentation may be
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required for criminal proceedings at a later date. Save a copy of the safeguarding form on the
service user file.
6.10 The alert should be followed up in writing. It is important to know what action it to be, or has
been, taken following the alert, and contact with the local authority must be made to establish
this. Your line manager will support you to follow up safeguarding alerts appropriately
particularly whether to challenge a decision not to report to the police.
Note – It is not acceptable to only report a safeguarding alert - all Safeguarding Alerts
should always be followed up to ascertain the progress of the alert.
7.0 Discussing Concerns with Parents/Carers
7.1
You should not discuss concerns with parents/carers if the child has stated that the parent or
carer has carried out abuse or if you suspect them of abuse or are concerned that the
parent/carer will not respond appropriately to your concerns. If you are not sure, discuss this
with your line manager. The line manager will work with the local authority to identify when this
is appropriate.
8.0 Discussing Concerns with Parents/Carers
9.0
8.1
With the exception of the circumstances described in 7.0 above, whenever possible; parents,
carers or the Local Authority as “corporate parents” should be informed of suspicions or
allegations of abuse. It is important to raise any concerns you may have relating to the child or
young person as there may be a reasonable explanation for any unusual behaviour or
symptoms.
8.2
Before disclosing any allegations of abuse to parents/carers, discuss the circumstances and
legal requirements to report with your manager.
8.3
The Service Manager would normally be the person disclosing to the parent/carer however the
Service Manager has the discretion to delegate to another.
Allegations against another child or young person involved with VoiceAbility
9.1
If a child/young person, or third party, makes an allegation of abuse against another child or
young person involved with VoiceAbility then you must take immediate action to separate them
and to ensure that there is no further contact between these children/young people until the
abuse has been fully investigated. You must then follow the same procedure as above.
9.2
If, after the investigation, there is no evidence of the alleged abuse, the Service Manager or
Regional Director should consider whether it is feasible for the two children/young people to
continue in the same group.
9.3
If you receive a third party report of a sexual relationship between young people, do not
automatically assume this is abuse. You will need to consider whether this is mutually
consensual and whether the young people have the capacity for making informed choices. If
this issue does arise, discuss it immediately with your line manager.
10.0 CONFIDENTIALITY
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10.1 Children and Young People have a right to expect that all staff and volunteers will deal
sensitively and sympathetically with their situation. It is important that information remains
confidential and that only those with a “need to know” should be privy to it.
11.0 SAFE RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES
11.1 All VoiceAbility employees and volunteers who have contact with the service users will have
undergone the enhanced disclosure of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and appropriate
checks with the Location Authority made. They will also be appropriately trained and supported
to adhere to the Safeguarding children and Young People’s Policy and Procedures and receive
basic Local Authority Safeguarding reporting training.
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Appendix A – SUMMARY OF ACTIONS AND REPORTING PROCEDURE
If you are unsure about the course of action you should take, or need advice or guidance, you can discuss
any issues, in strict confidence, with your line manager.
You must not ignore any concerns you may have, no matter how small they may be: doing nothing is not an
option.
Allegation or Suspicion of
Abuse
Is the child or young person in
immediate danger or requiring
urgent medical attention?
If yes: call 999
Then move on to
alert stage
If no alert/action,
notes of the
discussion and
decision should be
held on the person’s
file.
If no (or after calling
999) either support the
child or young person to
alert or alert your line
manager
Line manager to advise
regarding alert and agree
course of action with team
member
Alert to be made according to local multi-agency safeguarding procedures. Line
manager to give consideration to calling Police, Funding Authority and/or Care
Quality Commission, as well as the local authority if needed. Refer to local policies
on this.
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Fill out the Safeguarding Reporting Form and place on the person’s file.
Follow up on the Alert in writing
If referral not accepted but
concerns for welfare –
consider CAF referral
Follow up the Alert and
record the action taken by
social
services
as
appropriate.
Note: In some situations where the person is already involved with Children’s Services it may
be appropriate to discuss the issue with the named practitioner in the first instance. This
decision must be made in conjunction with your line manager.
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Indicators of Abuse
Some indicators are highly suggestive of abuse, others are less so and can easily be confused with ‘normal’
childhood behaviours. No list of indicators can be complete, and it is important in every case to consider the child
in his/her context.
Physical Abuse
Emotional Abuse
 Grasp marks
 Physical, mental and emotional
 Finger tip bruising
developmental delay or disturbance
 Shaped bruising e.g. hand, belt, stick
 Punishment which appears excessive
 Different coloured bruising in the same
 Domestic abuse between carers or
area – may indicate history
others
 Multiple fractures in various stages of
 Over-reaction to mistakes
healing
 Self-mutilation
 Burns and scalds – contact with hot
 Fear of parents being contacted
object, cigarette, friction burns
 Extremes of passivity or aggression
 Unusual scars
 Wetting/soiling
 Intentional poisoning
 Inability to play
 Fabricated or induced illness
 Parents/carers not allowing the child to
 Denial of injury
receive gifts, play with toys, go on
 Incompatible, vague or inadequate,
outings, when other family members are
discrepant explanations for injury
allowed to
 Injury inappropriate to child’s
 Parents’/carers’ indifference to the
development e.g. non-mobile child
child’s needs
 Parents’/carers’ hostility towards the
child
 Parents/carers deliberately withholding,
or forcing a child to ‘earn’ basic
necessities, such as food, drink, clothes
and warmth
 Parents’/carers’ cruelty, like being
locked up in cold, dark surroundings
Sexual Abuse
Neglect
 Consider that the child may initially
 Neglect of the child’s physical needs,
disclose only a minor part of any abuse.
such as nutrition and hygiene.
 Genital signs of a sexual assault.
 Neglect of child’s medical needs,
 Behavioural changes, such as new onset
including routine needs such as,
of bowel/bladder disturbance in a child
immunisation and urgent medical care
who did not previously suffer from this.
when required.
 Sexualised behaviour that is inconsistent
 Poor supervision and lack of safety
with the child’s age and development.
awareness, leading to increased
 Rectal bleeding, vulvovaginitis.
‘accidental’ injury.
 Love bites, bruising around
 Failure to ensure adequate stimulation
breasts/genitalia.
and education.
 Pregnancy, sexually transmitted
 Neglect of child’s social needs.
diseases.
 Lack of appropriate affection.
 Grooming
 Child may present physical signs of
neglect, such as poor hygiene and
personal presentation.
 Behavioural problems, such as
scavenging for food, chronic running
away, low self esteem and poor social
functioning.
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INDICATORS TO CONSIDER WHEN MAKING A REFERRAL TO CHILDREN’S SERVICES
A REFERRAL TO CHILDREN’S SERVICES SHOULD
ALWAYS BE MADE IN THE FOLLOWING
CIRCUMSTANCES:













Any allegation of sexual abuse
Physical injury caused by assault or neglect which may or
may not require medical attention
Incidents of physical harm that alone are unlikely to
constitute significant harm but taken into consideration
with other factors may do so
Children who suffer from persistent neglect
Children who live in an environment which is likely to
have an adverse impact on their emotional development
Where parents’ own emotional impoverishment affects
their ability to meet their child’s emotional and/or
physical needs regardless of material/financial
circumstances and assistance
Where parents’ circumstances are affecting their capacity
to meet the child’s needs because of domestic violence,
drug and/or alcohol misuse, mental health problems,
previous convictions for offences against children
A child living in a household with, or having significant
contact with, a person at risk of sexual offending
A child under 13 who is sexually active
An abandoned child
Bruising to an immobile baby
Pregnancy where children have been removed
Suspicion of fabricated illness
A REFERRAL TO CHILDREN’S SERVICES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN
THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:


A plan to meet the child’s needs following a common assessment has not had the
desired outcome
A child may become at risk of harm without the provision of services
The following is not an exhaustive list but highlights common situations where a referral
should be considered:
















Child not achieving milestones with no apparent physical cause
Child permanently excluded from school or temporarily excluded on a regular basis
Child who persistently runs away from home or school
Child who self harms
Child involved in offending behaviour
Child who is known to be involved in underage sexual activity and/or exploitation
Child appears overprotected and unable to develop their own identity
Disabled child with complex needs that cannot be realistically met by the parent or
carer
Child whose communication needs are not being met
Parents with learning disabilities whose impairment adversely impacts on their
parenting skills
Parenting skills are inadequate to meet the child’s needs
Episode(s) of domestic violence
Episode(s) of mental illness which might affect the child
Substance misuse which is affecting parenting capacity
Families who are socially isolated
Families where lack of access to appropriate housing or income is adversely affecting
the child
A REFERRAL TO
CHILDREN’S SERVICES IS
NOT REQUIRED WHEN:
 The common assessment has
resulted in a plan that is
enabling the child to achieve
their full potential in relation
to the five outcomes
 The input of Children’s Social
Care is not essential to either
service provision or
contributing to an assessment
of the wellbeing of the child
A REFERRAL MAY BECOME
NECESSARY IF:
 A plan has been implemented
following completion of a
common assessment and is
not meeting the needs of the
child
 Further information comes to
light that indicates that the
child is at risk of significant
harm
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Appendix C VoiceAbility Safeguarding Children and Young People Form
Safeguarding Children and Young People Form
CONFIDENTIAL
Please return the completed form immediately to your line manager
Your Name:
Position:
Reported/Referred to:
Date/Time:
Details of Child/Young Person:
Name ............................................................................................... Tel No.........................................................................
Address .................................................................................................................................................................................
Age/DoB........................
Gender: Male/Female
Any Special Needs...................................................
Has child/young person given consent for referral? ....................................................................
Details of Parent/Carer:
Name............................................................................................... Tel No........................................................................
Address (if different from above)..........................................................................................................................................
Relationship to young person....................................................
Are you reporting your own concerns or passing on those of somebody else? Please give
details:
Brief description of what has prompted these concerns:
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Details of alleged perpetrators (if known):
Name............................................................................................... Tel No........................................................................
Address................................................................................................................................................................................
Relationship to young person....................................................
Date and time of incident(s)/disclosure:
Have you spoken to the child/young person? If so, as accurately as possible, report what was
said and done by whom. Continue on separate sheet if necessary:
Any other people present at the disclosure:
Have the line manager spoken to the parent/carer? If so, as accurately as possible, what was
said?
(NOTE: IF THE PARENT/CARER IS SUSPECTED OF ABUSE, DO NOT DISCUSS WITH THEM)
Record any indicators of abuse (see policy appendix A) you have observed and give any
supporting evidence:
Further action taken by yourself (if any):
Name and contact details of any External Agencies contacted (if any):
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Details of any advice received:
Name and job title of person to whom this report has been passed:
Signed....................................................................... Print Name..........................................................................
Date..........................................................................
Time...................................................................................
For completion by your line manager
Date/Time received: .................................................
Reference No/Case No: .............................................................................................................................................
Details of further action taken (person(s) contacted and when)
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................................
Details of any follow up:
Date
Person
contacted
Details
Action Taken
Signed....................................................................... Print Name..........................................................................
Date..........................................................................
Time......................................................................................
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Appendix D
01/04/2010
VERSION 1.0
Guidance on Responding to a Child Making an Allegation
If a child/young person or third party make an allegation to you of suspected abuse use
the following guideline:
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Do:
Take them seriously
Use appropriate body
language
Stay calm, reassure them
Listen carefully
Reassure them that they
have done nothing wrong in
telling you
Go somewhere private but
be careful not to put
yourself at risk
Be honest
Observe non-verbal
language
Ask questions for
clarification only
Use eye contact
Give your full attention
Record in writing what was
said in the child/young
person’s own words as
soon as possible. Ensure
the record is signed and
dated
Tell them what you will do
next and discuss with them
who needs to be told
Separate out fact and
opinion
Relay this information
immediately to your line
manager
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Do Not:
Prompt or ask leading
questions that suggest a
particular answer
Dismiss the concern
Panic
Allow your shock to show
Make promises you can’t
keep, such as agreeing not
to tell someone else
Speculate or make
assumptions
Approach the alleged
abuser
Make negative comments
about the accused person
Openly discuss this with
other colleagues
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